AKWESASNE, Ontario – the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (MCA) completed the paving of Buckshot Rd. and officially opened it with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017.
The project was completed through funding received from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and the Ontario Ministry of Transport (MTO).
Lazore Construction completed the construction of the road in partnership with Jp2g Consultants, the Department of Technical Labour personnel including Director Jay Benedict, Technical Project Manager Leslie Papineau, Roads Superintendent Kennedy Garrow and their summer student Blake Tarbell.
“The days of our potholed and dirt roads is slowly coming to an end,” said MCA Grand Chief Abram Benedict at the opening ceremony for the road. “With this project, we will be able to access more properties to build more homes for our families and our children.”
Benedict also emphasized that now, emergency services would have better access to that area of Akwesasne and can better serve residents along Buckshot Rd., including the residence of the Tri-District Elders Lodge who were on hand at the ribbon cutting ceremony and who cut the ribbon.
The project consisted of 730 meters of roadwork at a cost of $700, 000.
“The Mohawk Council is proud that this project, which improves the safety of our community, is now complete,” said Benedict. “The patience and cooperation of Akwesasne residents in the immediate vicinity is very much appreciated.”
Jay Benedict, Director of the Department of Technical Services said that the success of this project was owed in part to the fact that it was well planned and “shovel ready” which allowed the project to have its funding approved quickly.
